Well completion apparatus



July 9, 1957 T- B. M CULLOCH WELL COMPLETION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan l0 1955 INVENTOR. fl-- /P.

July 9, 1957 T. B. MOCULLOCH WELL COMPLETION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2FiledQJan. 10, 4955 IN V EN TOR. fl-- I? FIG. 4.

July 9, 1957 T. B. MOCULLOCH WELL COMPLETION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Jan. 10, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

Casi/1 WELL coMPLErroN APPARATUS Thomas B. McCulloeh, Houston, Tex.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and EngineeringCompauy, Elizabeth, N. .l., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationJanuary 10, 1955, Serial No. 480,859

14 Claims. or. 166-115) The present invention is directed to apparatusfor use in wells having a casing arranged therein. More particularly,the invention is directed to conducting well completion and servicingoperations below the lower open end of a tubing arranged in a casing. inits more specific aspects, the invention is directed to apparatus forconducting operations in a well casing without manipulating tubingtherein.

The present invention may be briefly described as apparatus for use inwells having a casing arranged therein and a tubing positioned in thecasing withits lower open end at a level above 'a plurality ofproductive earth formations or intervals. The apparatus comprisespacking means arranged adjacent the lower end of the tubing isolatingthe annulus between the casing and the tubing from the productiveintervals or formations below the lower end of the tubing in the casing.An elongated conduit means extends through the packing means to allowfluid communication between the annulus with the casing below thepacking means and below the lower open end of the tubing. The conduitmeans is provided with a valve means arranged therein operable bypressure imposed on the valve means to open up fiu id communicationbetween the annulus and the casing below the packing means.

It is contemplated that the valve means may be arranged in the annulusabove the packing means and may States Pat comprise asingle valve memberoperable under pressure imposed on the annulus but may comprise a firstand a second valve member, the first valve member being openable bypressure imposed thereon through the annulus and the second valve memberbeing openable by pressure exerted on the second valve member throughthe tubing which is in lluid communication therewith through theelongated conduit and the lower open end of the tubing.

Ztis contemplatedin the practice "of the present invention that theelongated conduit may include and/ or have arranged within or on theconduit a telescopic member adapted for slidable movement with respectto the conduit means to lengthen the conduit means by pressure imposedthereon through the valve means.

It is further contemplated in the practice of the present invention thatthe elongated member with or without the telescopic member may have atleast one lateral port but preferably a plurality of lateral ports toallow fluid to be transported and/ or directed laterally below thepacking in the casing. In short, the conduit means if not provided witha telescopic member may have one or more lateral ports arranged thereinor, if provided with a telescopic member, the telescopic member may beprovided with a plurality of lateral ports or at least one lateral portintermediate its ends.

The present invention is of considerable utility and value since itallows operations to be conducted through the tubing and below the loweropen end of the tubing without manipulating the tubing. Such operationsmay include gun perforating, cementing, acid-izing, treating the wellwith fluid, such as fracturing fluid, to open up the formations,treating the well casing below the tubing and 2,798,558 Patented July 9,1957 packer with corrosion inhibitor to prevent corrosion of exposedsurfaces of the casing, secondary recovery operations such as by gas orother fluid injection, washing sand outof the casing, and the like.

The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to thedrawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a view of the apparatus of the present invention arrangedin a cased and tubed well extending below a packer;

Fig. 2 shows a telescopic arrangement of the apparatus of the presentinvention with a two-way valve with the lower open end of the tubingarranged at a level above a plurality of productive intervals;

Fig. 3 shows the telescopic joint of Fig. 2 in a retracted position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing gun perforating with theapparatus of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the telescopic structure andvalve of Figs. 2 to 4;

Fig. 6 is a modified apparatus showing a conduit means with lateralports, specifically lateral ports in the telescopic member; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectionalviews ot a stilliurther em- 'bodiment.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral 11 designates the earths surfacefrom which a borehole 1 2 has been drilled having a casing 13 arrangedtherein and cemented in place withtprimary cement 1'4. Atubing 15 isarranged in the casing 13 with its lower open end 16 at a level above anoilsand, such as 17.

The annulus 18 between the tubing 15 and the casing 13 is sealed with apacker l9 which isolates the annulus 18 from the space 20 below thelower open end 16 of the tubing and the packer 19. Extending through andsealed by the packer 19 is an elongated condnit member 121 which may beattached by attaching means to the tubing 15. The elongated-conduitmeans21 is provided with a valve member 23 which may be a valve of the naturedescribed by Carlisle -et al. in U. S. "Patent 2,654,436, which isopenable by pressure imposed on the annulus 18. The casing-13 :and thecement 14 have been perforated to form perforations 24opposit'e the oilsand 17 to allo production therefrom as desired.

Referring now to Fig. 2,a tubing, such as 15, is arranged in the wellcasing 13, as shown, and has :a packer 19 isolating the annulus 18 fromthe space 20. In this embodiment, a modified conduit .34 provided with atelescopic member 35 extends through the packer 18 and may be attached:to the tubing 15 by a connecting means 315. The conduit means 34 isprovided with a two-way valve 37 of the nature described more fullyhereinafter. The conduit means 34 with its telescopic member 35 allowsthe eflective length of the conduit member 34 to be increased, as shown.

It is to be noted that the casing 13 penetrates a plura-b ity ofproductive intervals or sands, such as 17, 2s, 27, 28, and 29 which areseparated by nonproductive intervals 30, 31, 32and 33.

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 but shows the telescopic member 35 in itsraised position in the conduit 34.

Referring now to Fig. 4, a slight modification of the embodiment ofFigs. 2 and 3 is presented in that the conduit .34 is shown attached tothe tubing 15 by attaching means 36 at a level substantially above thelevel of the packer 19, such that the telescopic member 35 may beretrieved upwardly in the conduit 34 to provide a nonobstructed spaceIt) the casing 13 below the packer 19. This is desirable to allow :atubing gun periorator, such as 38, having a plurality :of spaced apartbullet or shaped charge guns 39 arranged therein to form perforations,such as 24, in the casing 13below the packer .19. in the dotted linesthe telescopic member 35 is shown in its lower position.

Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the two-way valve 37 iscomprised of an upper valve member 40 and a lower valve member 41arranged in the valve means 37. The valve member 37 is connectedthreadably to the conduit 34 by mating threads 42 and arranged withinthe conduit 34 is the telescopic member 35. that lock springs 43attached to the interior wall of the conduit 34 by attaching means 44are provided to engage with a locking groove 45 on the upper end 46 ofthe telescopic member 35. A seal between the interior wall of theconduit 34 and the exterior wall of the telescopic member 35 is providedby having a sealing member, such as an O-ring 47, arranged in an O-ringgroove 48 in the member 35. The space 49 between the telescopic member35 and the conduit 34 is provided with a bleeder port 50 for escape ofany fluids which may be trapped therein.

The valve 40 is comprised of a valve member 51 biased into seatingengagement with seat 52 by a biasing means or spring member 53 arrangedbetween the valve member 51 and the shoulder 54. The valve member 41 iscomprised of a valve means 55 biased against a seat 56 by biasing meansor spring 57 between the member 55 and the shoulder 58 in the valvemember 37.

The valve member 40 communicates through a lateral passageway 60 withthe passageway 61 and thence with the interior of the conduit 34 whilethe valve member 41 communicates through a port 62 with the passageway61. In other Words, pressure exerted through the passageway 61 opens thevalve 55 and holds the valve 51 in closed position while suflicientpressure exerted through the port 63 opens the valve 51 but holds thevalve 55 in closed position.

Referring now to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the telescopic member 35has been modified to provide a modified telescopic member 70 having aplurality of lateral ports 71 arranged intermediate the ends of thetelescopic member 70. The lower end 72 of the member 70 may be opened orclosed as may be desired.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, another modification of the presentinvention is described in which a telescopic member, such as 80, isthreadably connected by mating threads 81 to a two-way valve member 37comprised of valves 40 and 41 as described with respect to Fig. 5. Thetelescopic member 80 extends through the packing member 19 and isprovided with a tubular member 80 arranged therein on which a slidablemember 82 is provided. This slidable member 82 has an outwardlyextending annular shoulder 83 which serves as a piston member in amanner which will be described. The piston member 83 is suitably sealedby means of O-rings 84 and 85 arranged, respectively, in recesses 86 and87 and by an O-ring 88 arranged in a recess 89'.

The member 82 is normally biased into its retracted position as shown inFig. 7 by means of biasing means, such as a helical coil spring 89,arranged between the shoulder or piston 83 and an inwardly directedshoulder 90 on the lower end of the member 80. A suitable seal betweenthe member 82 and the shoulder 90 is provided by O-rings 91 and 92arranged in recesses 93 and 94, respectively.

A coupling member, such as 95, connects a port 96 in the wall of member80 and communicates the interior of member 80 with a small conduit 97which extends to a source of fluid pressure, preferably at the earthssurface.

The present invention, as stated, is quite useful in several differentWays. For example, the invention may operate as follows with respect toFig. 1:

For example, if it is desired to inject a fluid, such as a corrosioninhibitor, below the packer 19, a corrosion inhibitor, such as oneavailable to the art, may be introduced into casing 13 below the packer19 by flowing same down the annulus 18 and thence by imposing suflicientpressure on the valve 23 causing same to open and allow It is to benoted the corrosion inhibitor to flow through the conduit 21 and thenceupwardly into the space 20 along with corrosive well fluids producedthrough perforations 24 from the sand 17. To conduct such operations,the corrosion inhibitor is introduced into the annulus 18 by line 7controlled by valve 6 and the produced fluids are obtained through thewell head equipment 10 through conduit 9 controlled by valve 8.

The embodiment of Fig. 2 shows a two-way valve in the conduit 34 and thetelescopic member 35. This embodiment is useful for well treatingoperations and may be particularly useful in cementing operations. Forexample, the productive interval 21 may have been perforated to formperforations, such as 24, and it is desired to seal these perforations24 with cement. Under these conditions, suflicient pressure would thenbe imposed on the annulus 18 which would work against the head 46 of thetelescopic joint 35 and would cause same to be extended into the regionof perforations 24. Fluid cement, such as that described in UnitedStates Patent 2,582,459, issued to Salathiel, an oil emulsion cement, oran oil slurry of cement, or any type of cement useful in well cementingoperations may then be flowed from the annulus 18 through the conduit 34and the telescopic member 35 to deposit same as a body 14a in the casing13 to seal the perforations 24'. Thereafter, after the perforations 24'have been scaled by having a filter cake of cement deposited therein,flow may then be reversed down through the tubing 15 and upwardlythrough the open end 35a of the telescopic joint 35 to remove excessfluid cement from the body 14a. It is to be noted that substantially allof the body 14a may be removed or that the level 14b of the body ofcement 14a may only partially be removed. In other words, the device ofthe present invention may act as a cement plug cutter. After the cementbody 14a has been partially or completely removed from the space 20,additional pressure exerted through the space 20 against the restrictedopening 35a will cause the joint 35 to move upwardly in the conduit 34and the lock groove 45 engage with the lock spring 43 as shown in Fig.5.

In the modification of Fig. 4, the elongated conduit 34 is arrangedabove the packer 19 such that substantially only a small portion of theconduit 34 extends below the packer 19 and substantially only thetelescopic joint 35 extends below the packer 19. This allows a gunperforator, such as 38, to be lowered through the tubing and fired toperforate the casing 13 and form perforations 24 circumferentially onthe casing 13.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the perforations 24 wereonly formed away from the conduit 21 such that the conduit 21 would notbe destroyed by firing a gun perforator.

The embodiment of Fig. 5 operates as has been described to raise and/orlower the telescopic joint 35.

With respect to the device of Fig. 6, this embodiment is particularlyuseful for injecting fluids laterally in the space 20 below the packer19, such as when it is desired to protect the casing 13 againstcorrosion by corrosive well fluids. This will allow the corrosioninhibitor to be introduced from the annulus 18 laterally in the casing13 below the packer 19.

The device of Figs. 7 and 8 operates similarly to the precedingembodiments excepting that pressure is supplied separately to the space96 through conduit 97 from the earths surface. Thus, when pressure isexerted in space 96 suflicient to overcome the force of the biasingmeans 89, the member 82 is forced downwardly compressing the biasingmeans 89 and causing the member 82 to project below the packer 19, asshown in Fig. 8, and thus effectively providing communication forconducting operations below the lower open end of the tubing 15 whileyet providing a full opening tubing.

The two-way valve 37 made up of valve members 40 and 41 operates asdescribed with respect to Fig. 5 and similar parts of the two-way valve37 have been designated by identical numerals. After the operations havebeen conducted, such as cementing, acidizing, Washing, treating, and thelike as has been described, the pressure is released from theinteriorofmember 80 through conduit 97 and the spring member 39 returns themember 82 to its retracted position as shown in Fig. 7. i

It is to be noted that the member 80 is provided with a port 100 toallow escape of any fluids trapped below the member 83.

The apparatus of the present invention, and particularly the embodimentsof Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, is also useful in removing sand from wells.For example, the telescopic joint 35 may be positioned to rest on theupper level of a body of sand in the casing 13. By flowing a washingfluid, such as oil, fresh water, salt water, and the like, from theannulus 18 down through conduit 34 and joint 35, the level of sand isdiminished and the sand is washed from the well with the washing fluidflowing up tubing 15.

It will be seen from the foregoing description of the present inventionthat numerous advantages are possible with the apparatus described. Thetubing is left full opening for lowering of a gun perforatortherethrough or for lowering of other well completing and/or servicingapparatus as may be desired. No equipment is required for well servicingand recompletion operations, such as in cementing, acidizing and thelike, except pumping means since the conduit of the present invention isopenable by pressure imposed on the annulus or through the tubing.Furthermore, the tubing is placed in the well permanently and need notbe manipulated; all subsequent operations are conducted as have beendescribed.

While the invention has been described with the elongated conduit shownconnected to the tubing, this conduit need not be connected to thetubing but may be connected to the casing or supported by the packer 19.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for use in wells having a casing arranged therein and atubing positioned in said casing with its lower open end at a levelabove a plurality of productive earth intervals which comprises, packingmeans arranged adjacent the lower end of said tubing isolating theannulus between the casing and tubing from the productive intervalsbelow the lower end of said tubing, elongated conduit means extendingthrough said packing means adapted to communicate fluidly the annuluswith said casing below the packing means, valve means arranged in saidelongated conduit means openable by pressure imposed thereon to open upfluid communication between the annulus and the casing below saidpacking means, and a telescopic member arranged within said conduitmeans for slidable movement therein adapted to lengthen said conduitmeans.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the telescopic memberis provided with means for moving same from a retracted to anextendedposition and vice versa.

3. Apparatus for use in wells having a casing arranged therein and atubing positioned in said casing with its lower open end at a levelabove a plurality of productive earth intervals which comprises, packingmeans arranged adjacent the lower end of said tubing isolating theannulus between the casing and tubing from the productive intervalsbelow the lower end of said tubing, elongated conduit means extendingthrough said packing means adapted to communicate fluidly the annuluswith said casing below the packing means, and valve means arranged insaid elongated conduit means openable by pressure imposed thereon toopen up fluid communication between the annulus and the casing belowsaid packing means, and a telescopic member arranged within said conduitmeans for slidable movement therein adapted to lengthen said I adjacentthe lower end of said tubing isolating the annulus between the casingand tubing from the productive intervals below the lower end of saidtubing, elongated conduit means extending through said packing meansadapted to communicate fluidly'the annulus with said casing below thepacking means, valve means arranged in said 'elongated conduit meansopenable by pressure imposed thereon through the annulus and the tubingto open up fluid communication between the annulus and the casing belowsaid packing means, said valve means comprising a first valve memberopenable by pressure imposed on the annulus and a second valve memberopenable by pressure imposed through the tubing, and a telescopic memberarranged within said conduit means for slidable movement therein adaptedto lengthen said conduit means by pressure imposed on said telescopicmember.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which the conduit means isprovided with a releasable locking member engageable with the telescopicmember to lock the telescopic member within said conduit means.

7. Apparatus for injecting a corrosion inhibitor in wells having acasing arranged therein and a tubing positioned in said casing with itslower open end at a level above a plurality of productive earthintervals which comprises, packing means arranged adjacent the lower endof said tubing isolating the annulus between the casing and tubing fromthe productive intervals below the lower end of said tubing, elongated.conduit means extending through said packing means adapted tocommunicate fluidly the annulus with said casing below the packingmeans, and valve means arranged in said elongated conduit means abovesaid packing rneans openable by pressure imposed thereon to open upfluid communication between the annulus and the casing below saidpacking means, said elongated conduit means being provided with aplurality of lateral ports arranged therein below said packer means forinjecting corrosion inhibitor into said casing below said packer.

8. Apparatus for use in wells having a casing arranged therein and atubing positioned in said casing with its lower open end at a levelabove a plurality of productive intervals and in which a packing meansis provided in the annulus between the tubing and casing adjacent thelower end of the tubing which comprises, elongated conduit meansextending through said packing means to communicate fluidly the annuluswith said casing below the packing means, a telescopic member arrangedwithin said conduit means for slidable movement between first and secondpositions and vice versa to change the length of said conduit means, andvalve means arranged in said elongated conduit means operable bypressure imposed thereon to open up fluid communication between theannulus and the casing below said packing means.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the valve means isarranged in the conduit means above the packing means.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the conduit means isprovided with at least one lateral port intermediate its ends adapted tobe positioned below the packing means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the valve meanscomprises first and second valve members, said first valve member beingoperable on imposition of fluid pressure through the annulus and saidsecond valve member being operable on imposition of fluid pressurewithin the casing below the packing means.

12. Apparatus for use in wells having a casing arranged therein and atubing positioned in said casing with its lower open end at a levelabove a plurality of productive earth intervals which comprises, packingmeans arranged adjacent the lower end of said tubing isolating theannulus between the casing and tubing from the productive intervalsbelow the lower end of said tubing, elongated conduit means extendingthrough said packing means adapted to communicate fluidly the annuluswith said casing below the packing means, and valve means arranged insaid elongated conduit means openable by pressure imposed thereon toopen up fluid communication between the annulus and the casing belowsaid packing means, said elongated conduit means being provided withmeans for fluidly communicating the annulus with the casing below saidpacking means at vertically spaced apart levels.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which the means for fluidlycommunicating the annulus with the casing below the packing means atvertically spaced apart levels is a telescopic member slidably connectedto said conduit means for movement between first and second positionsand vice versa with respect to said conduit means to vary the length ofsaid conduit means.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which the means for fluidlycommunicating the annulus with the casing below the packing means atvertically spaced apart levels comprises said elongated conduit meansprovided with at least one lateral port intermediate the ends of saidconduit means and adapted to be positioned below the packing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.7,772 Cross July 3, 1877 1,412,275 Cummings Apr. 11, 1922 2,543,814Thompson et al Mar. 6, 1951 2,689,008 Allen et al Sept. 14, 1954

1. APPARATUS FOR USE IN WELLS HAVING A CASING ARRANGED THEREIN AND ATUBING POSITIONED IN SAID CASING WITH ITS LOWER OPEN END AT A LEVELABOVE A PLURALITY OF PRODUCTIVE EARTH INTERVALS WHICH COMPRISES, PACKINGMEANS ARRANGED ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF SAID TUBING ISOLATING THEANNULUS BETWEEN THE CASING AND TUBING FROM THE PRODUCTIVE INTERVALSBELOW THE LOWER END OF SAID TUBING, ELONGATED CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID PACKING MEANS ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE FLUIDLY THE ANNULUSWITH SAID CASING BELOW THE PACKING MEANS, VALVE MEANS ARRANGED IN SAIDELONGATED CONDUIT MEANS OPENABLE BY PRESSURE IMPOSED THEREON TO OPEN UPFLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ANNULUS AND THE CASING BELOW SAIDPACKING MEANS, AND